Lightning-conductor



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IIENnYw. srANe, or READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIGHTNING-CONDUCTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,179, dated February 27', 1883.

Application tiled November 29, 1882.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY W. SPANG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Reading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lightning-Conductors, of which the following` is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvementsin the method of securing eflicient earthconnections for the electric conductors employed for protecting` buildings and other structures against injury from lightning.

The object ofthe invention is to provide an extended earth terminal or connection for lightning rods or conductors, whereby the atmospheric discharges may be diti'used over a considerable surface, and thereby be more readily neutralized by the electricity of opposing potential.

My invention consists in connecting the air terminal cfa lightning-conductor, through the ordinary system of intermediate conductors, with the metallic wires pertaining to a fence ofthe character usually termed a barbed-wire fence,7 and in providing means for electrically connecting the individual wires of such a fence with the earth at frequent intervals.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the method of carrying out my invention, A represents a building, near which extends a wire fence, B, consisting of horizontal wires H H H, secured to posts I by staples t', or other suitable means. Upon the building A is placed the air terminal I) of a system of lightiling-conductors E F, constructed and arranged in the usual manner. The upper extremities of the conductors E and F are connected with the lower extremity of the air terminal I), and the lower extremities of these conductors are united with the wires H H-H of the fenceB bysuitable conductors, C, securely joined to the respective wires. The wires H H H are connected with the earth at frequent intervals by means of conductors G G, attached to corresponding earth-terminal plates g g, of any suitable construction. The electrical conductivity of the wires H H H, taken in combination, should be approximately equal to the conductivity of each of the conductors D, E, and F, for the purpose of affording a suiicient path for the electrical discharges upon leaving the latter.

(No model.)

| In applying my invention to fences in which the posts I are of iron or other material affording to the wires a good electrical connection with the earth, the interval between the conductors gg may be considerably increased, and in some instances, especially if the earth-is naturally moist, they may be entirely dispensed with. rIhe sharp-pointed barbs h h, with which the wires of fences of this character are usually thickly studded, serve, -when thus electrically connected with the lightningconductors, to lessen the liability of the-occurrence of disruptive discharges in their immediate neighborhood by affording numerous points from which a continuous silent discharge will take place whenever the air and clouds are charged with electricity ot' opposite polarity from that of the earth. The difference in potential will thus be greatly diminished, and the electrical tension, to which the disruptive discharges are due, will be considerably lessened.

Any desired number of structure, AY may be connected with the same fence B, and it will frequently be found advantageous to connect the same with air terminals extending from the tops of trees, whereby a great elevation of the conductors may be obtained.

I claim as my invention- 1. rIhe combination, substantiallyas hereinbefore set forth, with a wire fence, of an air terminal of a lightning-conductor, conductors connecting said air terminal with one or more of the wires comprised in said fence, and coilductors connecting said wires with the earth.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a lightning-conductor having anair terminal, a wire fence electrically connected with said lightning-conductor, conductors connecting the wires of said fence with the earth, and metallic barbs or points attached to the wires of said fence.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day of November, A. D. 1882.

HENRY W. SPANG.

XVi tnesses:

DANIEL SPANG, ISAAC Y. SPANG. 

